‘Prince and Family’ box office collections day 1: Dileep’s comeback film opens with Rs 1.01 cr

Dileep’s much-anticipated return to the silver screen with ‘Prince and Family’ has opened to a modest start at the box office.According to data from the Sacnilk website, the film collected Rs 1.01 crore in India net on its opening day, with the worldwide gross touching Rs 1.14 crore. While the verdict is still awaited, the film has managed to draw decent initial footfall for a regional release — signalling the lingering pull of Dileep’s star power despite changing audience tastes.Prince And Family Movie ReviewDecent Start Amid Changing Expectations‘Prince and Family’ marks Dileep’s return after a long hiatus, and it leans heavily on the actor’s trademark comic flair and vintage screen presence.Directed by debutant Binto Stephen, the film is a social comedy that revolves around a traditional hero in a not-so-traditional world. Dileep plays “Prince,” a small-town boutique owner who is the eldest of three brothers. Despite being admired in his community, his overly specific expectations for a life partner keep him from getting married, unlike his younger siblings who are already raising families.On Day 1, the Malayalam version alone raked in ₹1.01 crore in net collections. With no overseas figures reported yet, the film’s initial traction is largely domestic. This opening signals a lukewarm but stable start for a Dileep film, which typically relies on strong family audience turnout over the weekend.Old-School Charm vs. Topical IssuesWhile the film attempts to retain Dileep’s “vintage charm,” critics and early viewers have pointed out that the storytelling may feel outdated, especially considering the topical themes it tries to address. The central narrative follows a familiar trope — the 'good guy marries bad girl' — which may not resonate as strongly with today’s audiences. Despite its attempt at social relevance, the writing feels stuck in an earlier era.An Odd Casting ChoiceETimes gave the movie a rating of 3 stars out of 5 and our review reads, “Maybe it is time for Dileep to move to more contemporary characterisations, particularly when the issue discussed is very topical. And it is definitely not a Dileep-Dhyan Sreenivasan movie; why the latter actor makes an appearance in the bit part is puzzling. It is a typical good guy marries ‘bad girl’ story. Dileep is the titular Prince, a small-town, but very popular boutique owner and the oldest of three brothers. The bane of his life is that he, with his various conditions for what his wife must be like, remains unmarried, while his brothers are married and start families.”